Daichi Kamada’s stoppage time equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Crystal Palace against Hoffenheim in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

Looking to bounce back from defeat in the Premier League and rediscover form in Europe, Pierre Sage’s side were forced to wait until the 91st minute to have something to celebrate.

Kamada thought he had given his side an early lead inside four minutes when a long throw into the box was headed into the path of the Japanese forward, but celebrations were cut short when the offside flag was raised immediately.

But it was a nightmare just moments later when a fast Hoffenheim counter took Palace off-guard, with Tim Lemperie chipping the ball over to Alexander Prass, who managed to squeeze his shot under Dean Henderson, leaving the England international frustrated.

Henderson quickly made amends in the 24th minute when his quick reactions denied Andrej Kramaric’s effort from a long throw in.

Palace had chances of their own as they grew into the game, with Yeremy Pino key in Palace’s response to going behind and playing in Kamada, who saw his shot from the outside of his boot go just wide of the target.

Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had been sent off at the weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, also tested Oliver Baumann in the Hoffenheim goal in the 30th minute, whilst at the other end of the pitch, Henderson was again called to action just before half-time to deny Wouter Burger.

Baumann was equally pivotal in the second half, when Adam Wharton found Pino in plenty of space on the left side of the box, with the German using his body to smother the effort on target.

Things would get worse for Palace in the 77th minute when Wharton was shown a second yellow card for a coming together with Burger, whilst there were further frustrations from the home side with Kramaric escaping a second yellow for handling the ball.

Kamada would come to the rescue as the clock ticked into stoppage time when a cross into the box found Tyrick Mitchell, who headed down into the Japanese striker’s path, who fired his shot through the legs of Baumann to keep Palace’s eight-game unbeaten run at home in Europe intact.  

Crystal Palace turn their attention to the league next as they host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, November 8, looking to end their three-game losing streak in the league, whilst Hoffenheim face 04 Schalke at home in the Bundesliga ahead of the international break.

"It all looked a little bit desperate, didn't it? Ball goes in, Mitchell ends up knocking the ball back down into the penalty spot, there's bodies in there, Kamada in the first half made those runs all day long and just couldn't get the finish right. He doesn't hit the ball well here, he scuffs it, but my word it goes through the keeper's legs."

And Palace are searching for the winner.

They move the ball up into Hoffenheim's half and win a corner. Dean Henderson looks to the bench for permission to go up but it's denied.